Splitter assembly having an adjustable gap width

Abstract

A splitter assembly is described of the type wherein a pulp stream is discharged from the discharge edge of a stratification surface across a gap to impinge against a splitter so as to separate into upper and lower flow components, the lower component passing through the gap while the upper component flows over the splitter, characterized in that the splitter has a generally curved impingement surface and is adjustable relative to the stratification surface such that the gap width in the direction of stream flow increases as the required lower flow component increases and decreases as the required lower flow component decreases. Preferably, the splitter is hingedly mounted for rotation relative to the stratification surface.

I claim: 
     
       1. A splitter assembly of the type wherein a pulp stream is discharged from the discharge edge of a stratification surface across a gap to impinge against a splitter so as to separate into upper and lower flow components, the lower component passing through said gap while the upper component flows over said splitter, the splitter having a generally curved impingement surface and mounted to be adjustable relative to the stratification surface such that the gap width in the direction of stream flow increases as the required lower flow component increases and decreases as the required lower flow component decreases, the splitter assembly being hingedly mounted for rotation about an axis located above said stratification surface and displaced upstream from said discharge edge. 
     
     
       2. A splitter assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which said impingement surface is curved when viewed in a vertical plane parallel with the direction of impinging flow. 
     
     
       3. A splitter assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said assembly is provided with means for securing said splitter in any one of a number of predetermined positions angularly spaced about said axis. 
     
     
       4. A splitter assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said securing means includes a lever fixed relative to said splitter for conjoined rotation therewith and able to engage with any one of a plurality of slots formed in a rack fixed relative to said stratification surface. 
     
     
       5. A method of adjusting a splitter for a pulp stream in a splitter assembly having a splitter spaced downstream from a gap and hingedly mounted for rotation about an axis located above the stratification surface of the pulp and displaced upstream from said discharge gap including the steps of increasing the gap width by rotating the splitter about said axis to produce an increased lower flow component or decreasing the gap width when the splitter is adjusted to produce a reduced lower flow component. 
     
     
       6. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said splitter has a generally curved splitting surface against which the discharged pulp stream impinges. 
     
     
       7. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein said assembly is provided with means for securing said splitter in any one of a number of predetermined positions angularly spaced about said axis. 
     
     
       8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein said securing means includes a lever fixed relative to said splitter for conjoined rotation therewith and able to engage with any one of a plurality of slots formed in a rack fixed relative to said stratification surface.